This blog announces events and opportunities available to educators within the Las Vegas Valley. It does not list all events, instead focusing on those of most interest to the author, mainly events relating to social studies, educational technology, and general education events. The blog author, Dr. Christy Keeler, is available via her website at http://christykeeler.com

Friday, June 15, 2007

Well, it looks like SB 184 snuck in under the radar after all and has been signed by the Governor. So, what does this mean for everyone?

The State Board of Education must approve the legislation and make determinations for the provisions of the bill – ie: the State Board will determine the number of social studies credits, or courses that a student must pass for promotion to high school. In all probability, this legislation will take effect the fall of the 2008-2009 school year. So, beginning that year, all incoming 6th or 7th graders will be required to pass social studies and science in order to be promoted to high school.

Dr. Robert Green, former Dean of Education, Michigan State University and author of "Expectations: How Teacher Expectations Can Increase Student Achievement."

Dr. James Banks is Professor in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Washington. His books include "Teaching Strategies for Ethnic Studies, Multicultural Education: Issues and Perspectives," "Curriculum and Teaching," and editor of "The Handbook of Research on Multicultural Education" to name a few of his publications.

Dr. Gary Orfield is Professor of Education and Social Policy at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is the co-founder and director of the Civil Rights Project at Harvard, an initiative that is developing and publishing a new generation of research on multiracial civil rights issues. Recent publications include: "School Segregation on the Rise Despite Growing Diversity," and "High School Dropouts Concentrated in 35 Cities."

Dr. Asa Hilliard, Professor of Urban Education at Georgia State University. He has written more that 200 research reports, articles and books on testing, ancient African History, and teaching strategies. His most recent books are "The Maroon Within Us" and "The Reawakening of the African Mind."

Educators to Saudi Arabia ProgramProfessional Development Opportunity for Educators

This is an announcement of the sixth competition for the Educators to Saudi Arabia Program, sponsored by Aramco Services Company. The program, which travels to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is open to full-time Social Studies Teachers and Library Media Specialists in grades 1-12 in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. Selected participants will travel to Saudi Arabia for a fully-funded, ten-day study tour of Saudi Arabia.

The Educators to Saudi Arabia Program aims to cultivate a greater awareness and understanding of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in U.S. primary and secondary schools and communities. The Educators to Saudi Arabia Program will examine Saudi education, culture, history and global relations through site visits, panel discussions and cultural activities in the cities of Dhahran, Riyadh and Jeddah from November 19 – December 3, 2007.

Social Studies Teachers and Library Media Specialists in grades 1-12 are encouraged to submit applications for the Educators to Saudi Arabia Program. Interested individuals can download an application at: http://www.iie.org/aramco.

For more information, visit our website or contact us at atsap@iie.org

Sunday, June 3, 2007

Kaleidoscope of Early Culture in Las VegasSeptember 29-30 at the new Springs Preserve and Lost City Museum

Explore the history of the Las Vegas Valley from early American cultures to Anglo-European settlers. Immerse yourself in this 2 day cultural history walk back in time.

September 29

8:00-8:15 am Check in at the Springs Preserve8:15-8:30 am Overview: Dr. Linda Miller, Nevada State Coordinator for History Education8:30-9:30 am Journaling by Jennifer Jacobi: Hands on activity9:30-9:45 am Break9:45am -12:30 pm The Cultural and Historical Resources of the Las Vegas Springs: Marcel Parent and staff(Includes tour of site and archeological presentation12:30-1:00 pm Lunch with education specialists, walk through the gardens1:00-2:00 pm Using Stories from the Past to Get Students Reading, Thinking and Learning: Joy Hakim, Author and historian of The History of US and The Story of Science2:00-3:00 Artful Reflection of the Past: Roy Purcell, author of Long Journey to Wikame and Southwestern artist3:00-4:00 Cultural and Historical Resources of Las Vegas Springs (continued)4:00-4:45 Introduction to Nevada Humanities Online Encyclopedia4:45-5:00 Wrap up

September 308:00 am Depart Springs Preserve for Lost City: Journaling practice during the trip9:30 am Arrive at Lost City9:30 am-12:30 pm Tour and History of the Lost City: Native American Cultures, Archeology, Structure, Eva Jensen, archeologist and curator at the Lost City Museum12:30-1:15 pm lunch with archeologists1:15-2::00pm How the New Deal Efforts and Hoover Dam effected the Ruins and the Local Community2:00-2:45 Environmentalism in Nevada: Jeff Hinton, Sierra Vista High School2:45-3:30 Curriculum and the Lost City: Dr. Linda Miller3:30-3:45 wrap up and evaluation/Depart Lost City: complete evaluations and journals on bus5:00 Arrive Las Vegas: Turn in journals and evaluations for credit

Participants will receive a book by Joy Hakim, Long Journey to Wikame by Roy Purcel, lunch both days, admission to historic sites and bus transportation, curricular materials for The Springs Preserve and Lost City, 1 year membership in the National Council for History Education, 1 year membership in the Nevada Council for History Education, and 1 recertification credit from the Nevada Department of Education

Featuring renowned Historian/Author Joy Hakim and Artist/Author Roy Purcell, sponsored by Nevada Council for History Education, and co-Sponsored by the Nevada Council for the Humanities, National Council for History Education, Stephens Press, Clark County Education Foundation, Springs Preserve and Lost City Museum

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Registration Deadline: September 7 or until there are 30 participants)Cost: $40Contact Dr. Linda Miller, Nevada State Coordinator for History Education, to apply.

Dr. Keeler, the author of this blog, is the pedagogy scholar for Clark County School District’s Teaching American History Grant and an independent pedagogy scholar. Her recent publications are in the fields of educational technology, instructional design, and social studies education.
Dr. Keeler's work is available at http://christykeeler.com.